Kaua'i police chief to stay on leave
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i Police Commission yesterday voted to keep Chief George Freitas on paid leave until a hearing on charges brought against him by two senior officers.
Advertiser library photo • March 15, 1996
The commission placed the chief on leave in early August after the officers accused him of a range of charges, including parking violations, rudeness to senior officers and interfering in a criminal investigation.
George Freitas says he did not act improperly.
After a probe by a Honolulu Police Commission investigator, the commission rejected some charges, but retained counts involving the criminal investigation interference case, rudeness, giving improper orders to officers and allowing a civilian to ride in a police vehicle.
Freitas insists he did not act inappropriately, but he has not yet been allowed to answer the charges.
The commission proposed a hearing on the charges Dec. 17, but Freitas is scheduled to be away then.
The parties agreed that deputy county attorney Laurel Loo and Freitas' lawyers will discuss the timing of a session and settle on a date.
In an agenda item for the commission meeting yesterday, the commission indicated it wants to hold a hearing at which "individual members of the commission may question him (Freitas) regarding the specific charges."
Meanwhile, however, there are differences about the way the hearing is being established.
Honolulu attorney Jon Hoshibata said Freitas and his main counsel, former state Attorney General Margery Bronster, have still not received details of investigation reports.
Hoshibata said Freitas has a right to know ahead of time the details of the charges and the investigation, and has a right to examine witnesses.
Hoshibata said Freitas may need to file an action in court to establish the rules for the hearing.
"They're just trampling on his rights. Nobody walks into these situations totally blind. We can not allow a hearing of that nature to take place," he said.
